Apple tree `Rico Red`

ABSTRACT

Anatomically and morphologically similar to its parent, Sharp Red Delicious, this new variety produces earlier coloring and maturing apples than those of its parent tree.

BACKGROUND

A nonspur type red delicious apple tree, this new and distinct cultivar originated as a single limb mutation in the lower whorl of branches of a central leader tree in the MTM Orchards east of Royal City, Wash. Reproduced by budding in those orchards through successive generations, this new variety of tree exhibits the bark, foliage, blossoming, bearing, spur and growth characteristics of its red delicious parent, a well-known, distinct variety produced and marketed by Van Well Nursery, Inc., of Wenatchee, Wash., under the name "Sharp Red"; but it differs from its parent in the fruit produced.

The earlier coloration and maturity of its fruit, even under vigorous conditions, makes this cultivar genetically new and unique. It has exhibited the ability to set a crop in the third or fourth leaf without plant growth regulator use. Its fruit size, color and quality are second to none.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photographic side view and FIG. 2 a calyx end view of apples, those in the middle (labelled "Rico") being of the new variety and those on opposite sides thereof, for purposes of comparison, being of the Sharp red delicious variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The new tree, upon visual examination, reveals the morphological and anatomical characteristics of its parent, referred to above. However, its production of early season, highly colored fruit, sufficiently mature for the late summer and early fall markets give this new variety major economic importance in the orchard industry.

In more specific terms, fruit of the new variety is described as follows:

Fruit:

Maturity when described.--Mature from tree. Round in cross section and elongated. Large, dense with a L/D ratio of 0.93-0.95.

Skin: Smooth, waxy, with prominent lenticels. Moderately heavy with little chlorophyll (green). Red color (5R 4/12) develops early and remains bright (i.e. does not fade).

*Color: Strong yellowish green (2.5 Gr 5/9) early in the season, turning to a red stripe (5R 4/12) on green background 85-90 days from bloom, and a solid red on red stripe approximately 95 days post bloom (for example, on 8/15/81).

Calyx: Lobed (usually 5), forming prominent basin, basin 1/4 to 3/8 inches deep and 1/2 inch wide. Sepals at maturity small, obscure, yellowish-green in color. Closed calyx.

Stamens: In single whorl, persistent.

Flesh: White, clean, with vascular bundles obscure.

Seed: Amber to brown (5YR 4/5) in color with rounded distal end and sharp embryo end. Number varies from 2 to 8.

Seed cavities: Ovals in shape.

Use: Dessert, processing (juice).

Keeping quality: Very good, 120 days in cold storage.

With the new variety identified as "Rico Red", additional identification is made by comparing its fruit in terms of chemical and physical characteristics with that of its parent as follows, referenced to mature fruit:

    ______________________________________                                         MATURITY COMPARISON: "SHARP RED DELICIOUS"                                     vs "RICO RED DELICIOUS" (as of 8-20-81)                                                        Solu-                     %                                                    able         Starch.sup.1                                                                          Ethyl-                                                                               Surface                              Fruit Pressure  Solids       Rating ene.sup.2                                                                            Color                                No.   SR*    RR*    SR    RR   SR  RR   SR RR SR RR                            ______________________________________                                         1     18     18     9.8   10.7 1   1.5  .15 .22                                                                               85 100                          2     18.8   20     9.4   11.0 1   2.0  .10 .24                                                                               90 100                          3     20     18.5   9.8   10.2 1   2.0  .15 .20                                                                               85 95+                          4     21     19     10.0  10.4 1   2.0  .18 .24                                                                              100 100                          5     19     19     9.8   10.5 1   2.0  .18 .24                                                                               80 100                          6     19.5   20     9.0   10.8 1   1    .10 .28                                                                               80 100                          7     19.5   20     9.4   10.8 1   1.5  .10 .27                                                                               85 90                           Means 19.4   19.2   9.5   10.6 1   1.7  .14 .24                                                                               86 97.8                         ______________________________________                                          SR = "Sharp Red Delicious                                                      RR = "Rico Red Delicious                                                       .sup.1 Starch in a tangential crosssection was stained in a IKI solution       and the distribution of starch rated as: (1) Starch present into the core      area. (2) Starch had disappeared from the central core area. (3) Starch        not present inside the vascular bundles. (4) Starch present in outer 1/4       of apple. (5) Starch completely hydrolized.                                    .sup.2 Ethylene was measured by placing a 200-250 gram fruit in a one          quart sealed mason jar and held at 70-72° F. for one hour. A sampl      of the internal gas was removed and injected into a "Snoopy" ethylene          detector connected to a RusTrac recorder. Calibration gases of .9 and 9        ppm were used as standards.                                              

Further identification is made by comparing its fruit in terms of time of coloration with those of its parent and of other well-known Red Delicious cultivars, as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Cultivar    Date 1     Date 2     Date 3                                       ______________________________________                                         Delicious   8/12/83    9/28/83    10/11/83                                     Shotwell    8/12/83    9/25/83    10/01/83                                     Sharp Red   8/06/83    9/09/83    9/28/83                                      Rico Red    8/06/83    8/25/83    9/08/83                                      ______________________________________                                          Date 1 = First true red color                                                  Date 2 = 60% of the fruit surface covered with deep red                        Date 3 = 90% of fruit would grade Washington Extra Fancy                  

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree similar in its anatomical and morphological characteristics to the parent tree "Sharp" Red Delicious, but distinguishable therefrom in the earlier coloration and maturity of its fruit, even under vigorous conditions, substantially as shown and described. 